CoCoComa

Bill and Lisa Roe are a couple who clearly love rock & roll; they run a small label, Trouble in Mind Records, and front the garage punk band CoCoComa when they're not busy with day jobs and looking after their young daughter. Based out of Chicago, the Roes formed CoCoComa in 2005, with Bill on drums and lead vocals, Lisa on guitar and backing vocals, and Mike Fitzpatrick on bass, organ, and backing vocals. In 2006 CoCoComa released a fistful of 7" singles and split EPs on a variety of labels, and in 2007 they hooked up with Memphis-based Goner Records to issue their self-titled debut album. In 2008, the future seemed iffy for the band -- Fitzpatrick left CoCoComa to move to New York state, and as Lisa discovered she was pregnant, the Roes debated the wisdom of continuing the group. However, as Bill and Lisa stockpiled a batch of new songs, they decided they should make another album, and recruited two new bandmates, Anthony Cozzi on guitar and organ and Tyler Brock on bass. The new edition of CoCoComa cut 2009's Things Are Not All Right, and enthusiastic response from fans and critics encouraged the Roes to keep the band going. (They also discovered that their baby daughter didn't mind traveling, making touring less problematic than expected.) As Bill and Lisa squeezed additional touring (in America and overseas) with their bandmates alongside parenthood, work, and running Trouble in Mind, they assembled a compilation album, 2010's Spectrum of Sounds, which features material from CoCoComa's early singles and EPs and well as unreleased tunes and live recordings.
© Mark Deming /TiVo